I received my bachelor degree in Computer Science & Technology at Zhejiang University, China. Click here to read a brief biography that introduces my stories prior to my entrance to ZJU.
Study in Computer Science
A screenshot of the game Angry Ball
I entered Zhejiang University in Sept. 2011 after taking the university entrance exam. Freshmen in ZJU are free to take courses offered by different colleges. It is the course “C Programming Language” that ignited my interest in programming. Without any C programming experience prior to this course, I was able to write a game “Angry Ball” in its final project. I can still remember the moment when my project became bug-free for the first time. I did jump up and laughed like a fool. From then on, I realized computer science is my favorite and decided to pave my career path in this field.
Prof. Yale N. Patt once offered a course “Introduction to Computing Systems” at ZJU in the summer of 2012. What he discussed in the class becomes a blur to me, while I can still recount an episode in it. One day, he just finished a topic and asked us whether we understood it or not. There was a long silence following in the class. Frankly this is a common scenario happens everyday in classes in China. Usually an experienced Chinese teacher would regard this silence as “Yes, we have no questions.” and he or she would move on seamlessly. What a tacit agreement, though sometimes actually, we are shy to raise our hands. Obviously, Prof. Patt was not an “experienced” one. Got no response, he faced us seriously and gave a few impressive words, “I asked you a question. You answer me. I’m here to let you understand. So please tell me if you understand or not”.
From then on, I thought education in Western countries may be sort of different from that in China. My exchange study experience at the University of Hong Kong further confirmed my deduction. I would like to study abroad to explore the other side of the world, listen to opinions and share my own perspectives.
Here are some projects I did or contributed to.
Experience at the Student Union
Do not join any student societies until you are a sophomore, since the courses offered by Chu Kochen Honors College are extremely hard and challenging.
— Prof. Tang, Deputy Dean of Chu Kochen Honors College
Sorry Prof. Tang. I did not follow your advice and join the Student Union of CKC immediately after your lecture. Yes, courses in CKC are quite challenging. A number of my classmates were kicked out by CKC due to their fails in exams. Nevertheless, I believe the university life is not integrated if a student just crams up textbooks and struggles for high scores.
I worked in the News and Network Department of the Student Union for two years, where I learned how to take photos, write news reports and communicate with others. My friends and I once organized a photography competition for students in ZJU. We discussed schedules, negotiated for sponsors, promoted the competition and invited judges. As a result, we hosted an event with over 200 attendees and audience members, which was incredibly rewarding after the intensive processes.
If there is another period in my life when a group of my friends all share a same goal and spare no efforts in achieving it, it must be the time I spent in the Student Union.
Christmas Party of the News and Network Department, Dec. 24th, 2012
Served as a Volunteer Teacher
There is a famous photo in China that shot a little girl wearing rags with a pencil in her hand. The background of the photo is dark and bleak while the girl stares her big eyes at the camera sturdily, full of hope and craving. The name of this photo is “I Want to Go to School”. The photo draws the society’s attention dramatically on the pool education conditions in remote and mountainous areas of China. Lots of college students go to remote areas serving as volunteer teachers, including my friends and I.
In the summer of 2012, I went to the Primary School in Luoxi Village, Jiangxi Province to serve as a volunteer teacher, together with some members of Aixin Group, an NPO of ZJU aiming to converge students’ power to support education in poor areas of China.
Our arrival ignited the tranquil village and became the biggest news among these hospitable villagers. The most excited ones were not the children we were about to teach, but the parents. “Guess what? They are from Zhejiang University! My child would learn a lot from them.”
On the contrary, It was I who learned a lot from these kids. They are active, optimistic and more eager for knowledge than me. I taught Nature and Music for them. It was often the case that I was surrounded after the class, being asked questions constantly like, what’s the feeling if I get an electric shock, why can’t the battery shock me, what is the major chord, can you sing little star for me… Frankly, some of these questions were not that easy to answer. And even if you answered ONE of these,they would raise TWO or THREE following questions for you.
After this experience in Luoxi Village, I realize that as college students, we are occupying the richest educational resources in China. It is our duty to take more social responsibilities and support kids in the poor, rather than left them trudging in the dark.
Kids and I, Luoxi Village, summer 2012
Exchange Study at the University of Hong Kong
I was selected to an one-year exchange program at the University of Hong Kong, where I spent a fruitful time. Click here to see my stories in HKU.
The Index Photo
The gate of Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University
The index photo of this page is a panorama of Zijin’gang Campus of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. It was taken in June 2013 and was selected by the homepage of Zhejiang University. Here are my other photography works.